ewen21

Yeah, and he has started precisely 400 games in centerfield over the last five years. That doesn't even averages out to one game less than half of a season each year of those last five years and after hip surgery, at 33 years old this will not start improving next year. It is guaranteed to get even worse, so when you say what you just said, what does it actually have to do with the Minnesota Twins remedy to find a centerfielder to play the games Buxton doesn't play? It has been the same problem year after year. He will 33, coming off hip surgery. At what point do you let go?

You are very wrong about that in the case of me. I cannot speak for others, but I willing to bet those who are against an extension aren't interested in making all sorts of creative accommodations to retain Buxton just so he can fulfill his wish to be a lifetime Twin. I am interested in moving on from the Buxton era. It is nuts to me that a guy who has 862 lifetime hits in 12 seasons winds up to be our "face of the franchise". We need to build a roster with youth and hopefully a reasonable amount of depth. We have had to load manage Buxton with all the complications he presents.

Why should it be about what he wants? If they are serious about running the organization it should be about what is best for the Minnesota Twins. You can't make preset accomodations for players the way the Twins have for Buxton all these years. When his contract expires he will be heading into his 35 year old season. These injuries and untimely exits can happen at any time. Have we learned nothing? People keep romanticizing the idea that he wants to be "a Twin for life" but at this point who cares? I would be much happier to see a team of young players as with the teams of the early 2000s than to see a team with one "face of the franchise" guy who gets special accommodations. The reality is, Buxton has just 862 hits to show for his 12 seasons with the Twins.

There is literally no need to explain the bolded to me. I KNOW that is the situation. He earned that according to the collective bargaining agreement, but he didn't earn the right to be resigned for 2029 and beyond. The Twins do not need to resign him. They have a team to run. They can hasten his departure if they so choose and we can see who is interested. I see no reason for him to remain on this lofty perch as "face of the franchise". I would rather have no face of the franchise for a while. THe 2002 to 2004 Twins did not have a "face of the franchise" and they did just fine. This "face of the franchise" stuff is actually part of the problem if you ask me (and I know you haven't) I am simply stating measures that can be taken by the Twins Why he is cast in stone as "the face of the franchise" really is absurd to me. We have not played much meaningful baseball with him. The Twins have played in just 12 playoff games in the 12 seasons he has been with them and he has appeared in a grand total of TWO of those games. I am trying to say it is time to let go already.

The fact that he proclaimed that he wants to be "a Twin for life" is irrelevant to me at this point. I have said the Twins could approach him at some point next season (perhaps before the trade deadline) to tell him he will not be resigned after 2028. That is rough, blunt and probably too soon, but I am all for it. Let him decide if he really wants to play baseball. Why is it that Buxton gets to decide at this point? He is signed through 2028. The Twins should tell him at some point next year or (probably) during the offseason following 2027 that he will not be resigned after 2028. Thank you very much, have a nice day. We did it with Hunter and Santana and they were at least a big part of a resurgence the Twins had in the early 2000s that saved the franchise. How is it that Buxton is any more special than those players? He isn't to me (as you can probably surmise by now)

He can be "trolling", 100% serious, fair and pretty damn accurate all at the same time. Just sayin

I suppose you can call it that. I prefer to see it as different people are offering up different analysis of players and I think that is healthy. However, I do find the premise of the article to be suspect. To call what occurred in the second half "a collapse" is kind of strange if you ask me. Assigning blame to someone like Trevor Larnach is even stranger since the guy is slightly better than replacement value for his career. This team was not earmarked to do anything significant, performed slightly better than most expected and still wasn't at .500 by the ASB. This is not a collapse. This is a team that wasn't really that good to begin with.

He was the team's "first half MVP" on a team that was below .500. so what about that? He played the best on the Twins up until June. That is what that means. He was absolutely awful in the second half and was a terrible hitter with runners on base all season. He wants to be a "Twin for life" but he has also said this: "The only way I'm getting out of here -- they're going to have to come talk to me and tell me something else. " At what point do the Twins take control and move on from this player? I have never seen a player who managed only to collect 862 hits in a dozen seasons with a team declare he was playing for that team for life, as if it's his decision to make. WHat the heck is that? Step back and think about that for just a moment. This team has a succession of younger players coming up to play the outfield. What is the point in having him anymore?

What are you talking about, man? https://www.mlb.com/news/byron-buxton-gives-update-on-hip-injury Everyone plays with injuries and soreness. Buxton clearly was giving the Twins intel on how he felt. It isn't their fault he has this problem.

To quote the Geico Caveman circa about 2007: "Maybe you need to do a little more research" 😀 It takes seconds. I literally did a Google search on "Buxton hip surgery" and it produced those two articles. I understand the concerns about AI but we are talking about a BASEBALL PLAYER here. I do not think your life will be adversely affected using an AI search for something like that.

862 hits to be exact.

Yes, me as well. HOWEVER, in this case, we aren't talking about some pressing societal issue. This is about a baseball player.

Yes, precisely. What else do we go with other than what is? Don't get indignant, I am trying to help you..🤑 He OBVIOUSLY isn't getting hip replacement surgery. It is for a hip impingement. Have you not read anything? https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49907101/twins-byron-buxton-hip-surgery-done-season Here is another. https://www.mlb.com/news/byron-buxton-season-ending-hip-surgery

This isn't hip replacement. Just AI "Buxton hip surgery" and it returns this: Recovery Forecast Doctors have reassured Buxton that the procedure should safeguard the remainder of his career, and the standard recovery timeline indicates he should be fully prepared for the start of spring training in 202

How did they "mess around with his injury"?? Here was Buxton himself back in July: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49278337/twins-all-star-byron-buxton-leaves-game-hip-injury "It's just one of those things where I don't want to set myself back farther, just in case I was trying to push through it or whatever the situation was," Buxton said. "I don't want to put the team in a bad spot by me trying to go out there and be Superman by trying to play one game, and I end up missing a month." They got their intel from him and pretty much acted accordingly. He felt as if he could play through until he couldn't. The FO gets plenty of things wrong but this is not one of those things.

Now that we have you, how do the Twins handle him this offseason and next year knowing the surgery is now scheduled for the 18th of September? "Estimated Recovery: Doctors and the Minnesota Twins estimate a standard 3-to-5-month recovery window." Tell us now if you see it differently. He really should be ready to go next season. Ramon Laureano had the same surgery in June and there is talk of him being available soon if possible. Buxton is going to have five months until when pitchers and catchers start. He should be ready to go for the season. How he recovers will be largely up to him although if he doesn't recover well I have a feeling the front office or the Twins medical staff will be blamed (just as it was with Mauer)

That isn't going to happen, but I do like your energy. He seems to be beyond reproach to the vast majority of this board, but at least NOW criticism about him isn't entirely verboten (which is refreshing) I get what you are saying but I sincerely believe the Twins should tell him they aren't going to resign him to a new contract sometime around the ASB next year. Screw whatever agitation he might feel over it. This is business. He's made a ton of money here hardly playing. This team needs a new identity and it is time to move on sooner than later. Put the onus on him. This would put him in a position to waive his no trade if he truly wants to play baseball. We could deal him to a team team like St. Louis or Atlanta and maybe get a mid-level prospect and have them eat a part of his contract for 2028. Let him say he wants to be a Twin for life again and play that against his desire to play baseball beyond 2028. What is the attachment to this player? This isn't Cal Ripken or Derek Jeter here. The Twins have been in 12 playoff games since he began his tenure and here and he has played in TWO of those games. TWO There really is no need for a discussion on re-signing him. It would be beyond stupid and it is time to press him about his future starting next season. I view his "loyalty" to the Twins differently than most, and I have several friends who see it precisely this way as well: He is loyal to the Twins because he had a great setup here. He barely needs to play in 60% of the games and the fans simply do not let this affect their view of him. With this hip, it is CLEARLY something that must be addressed and cannot be avoided. Some of this other injuries were "injuries" to me. And if that is viewed as "attacking his character" let me forward anyone who feels this way to the Torii Hunter has one regret article.

If the team is below .500 at the ASB it is hard for me to say there was a "collapse". For me a collapse is when the team is in first place or in contention then completely tanks late in the summer all the way to the end of the season. Chances are if the team is at .476 at the ASB and then they are .412 the rest of the way they weren't good enough to warrant any conversation about a collapse. Potato, pototto

I never said they had "a feud" nor have I suggested Hunter is pure and innocent, so don't mischaracterize what I said. What I said was that he tried to help Buxton when Buxton flipped out and left Rochester when the Twins (rightly) did not call him up in September of 2018. Buxton hit .156 and didn't start hitting in Rochester until the last three games. He was a mess that year and he had no business doing what he did. I thought that was disgraceful. There were reports (and it may have been covered here) that Torii tried to reach out to him but Buxton wasn't picking up his calls. That is absurd. I do not hold Buxton's injuries as a "personal affront" it is just that I don't get the over the top bull about his "greatness" when he can barely play 100 games in a season and has a lifetime OBP just over .300. I am sorry. And then there is this.......the Twins have played meaningful baseball in August and September now six times since 2019 ('19, '20, '22, '23. '24, '26) and he has played in roughly a quarter of those games. Buxton also has started in just two of the 12 postseason games the Twins have played since he's come into the league. You can get bothered by Hunter having some regret not playing in KC in 2015 (WS champs) and you can grouse about his wife, too. That can bothers you and you can "love" Buxton. It makes no sense to me, so I went in on Buxton. I think Buxton puts his foot in his mouth and is not the kind of player I want in the trenches because you cannot count on him. Hunter was 24 for 80 as a Twin in the playoffs with 3 homers and 8 runs batted in. He was possibly the the best CF in the game at that time who made acrobatic plays, crashed into walls, and went all out. Yet, somehow....some way....they didn't need to load manage him like the Twins have to with Buxton. Take the last word if that makes you feel better.

Because he is so unbelievably overrated here and Torii Hunter gets a ton of gas where Buxton should be getting it. He gets so much praise and has been put on such a ridiculous pedestal and he isn't even as good as Hunter. So what if Torii said he regrets not signing with KC in his last season. Why wouldn't he? They did win the world series and what player wouldn't want that? HE also mentioned he had family and connections in that area. I should also remind you that Torii TRIED to help Buxton when Byron threw his tantrum in Rochester after not getting the call up in 2018. Buxton ran out on his team and basically was not heard from for a good while. Torii tried calling him in an attempt to offer guidance, but Bryon wouldn't take his call. Buxton continued to grouse about it all the way into the beginning of the 2019 season. There is a big reason why Torii stepped back from the Twins if you ask me.

This is particularly personal to me, because my mom drove a the cliche lime green 1974 Ford LTD wagon with the rumble seats in the back and the wood panels. That car was ready for the dump before the Twins started playing in the Metrodome.

Torii isn't the bad guy. Oh heavens no. Not that!!!

Let's see us draft and raise a starting pitcher. Our division rivals seem to do it wayyyyy better than we do.

I am not trying to say Hunter was "good" when he came back in his forty year old season. I also don't give much of a DAMN about his WAR or OPS+. I just think it is really rich to say a forty year old player "sucked" while it was all but impossible (on these boards) to say that about Buxton "sucked" during seasons where he actually SUCKED.

No, it is a non-homer take. And by the way people are "attacking his character" which I thought was strictly forbidden here. Hunter sucked in his final season? You really are going to dig your heels in on that one, are you? Entirely absurd, but fair enough when you exclude all context (succumb to ignorance). Hunter "sucked in his last season" and yet at age 40 he managed to hit 22 home runs, drive in 81 runs and hit .240. How does it suck for a 40 year old position player doing that? I guess you saw his WAR, huh? I'd wager less than 1% of the position players who make it to the majors even make it to 40 let alone play 122 games in the outfield. You clearly don't like him and that is fine. I get it. HOWEVER, Byron Buxton has started in the field more than 122 precisely ONCE in his 12 seasons and yet is lauded as the best thing since vanilla pudding. This is a guy who has had his run-ins with the front office (September 2108. walking out on his teammates the last couple weeks in Rochester when he learned he was not getting called up, not answering Torii's calls). And then curt comments to the press all the way into the beginning of the season when he was absolutely horrendous in 2018, concussion issues and just the whole thing. They shut his ass down because he was completely clueless offensively. Then the jun k with fans in social media who dared to rib him about not getting injured at the uniform reveal (which is incredibly childish). As much as Hunter could agitate with the things he said, I am taking him ten time out of ten over Buxton if I am starting a team. Not simply because he stays on the field, but because he is a better player and the kind of player I want. Hunter had 12 season with a 3 or more WAR and Buxton has had 7. Lord knows where he will be two years from now.